^^    f  .'-1,1    •!    • 


l^^ 


iiE;vEt;air  OF  Rxsiiieiostf, 


THIRD  PRES^YT^fll AN  C 


^ALTIMOR 


wlfl:¥iSi<L-s 


sy. 


ONNFCTLD  WITH  REVIVALS  IN 


JiY  vv.  c.  t^yyLT^ 


THE  SA/D  f.^iun- 


BAETIMQ?^.^ 


I  VT  CD  Py 'WintlAMi  WOODDV, 

,   r     ; -;        r  'oii'Ji- from  Market  Street. 


m 


NARRATIVE 


OF 


A  RSVIVAIi  OS*  RSIiSGE02«', 


IN  THE 


THiuD  PRESBYTERIAN  CHURCH, 


OF  BALTIMORE. 


wsfsc  :b!1ia:es.s 


SUBJECTS  CONNECTED  WITH  REVIVALS   IN   GENERAL, 


BY  W.  C.  WALTON, 

TASTOH  OF  THE  SAID  CHUHCH. 


BALTIMORE: 

PRINTED  BY  WILLIAM   WOODDY, 

Calvert  street^  second  door  south  from  Market  street, 
1824. 


•^A^mAmwrn 


or 


A  REVIVAL  OF  RELIGION, 


THE  subject  of  revivals  has,  for  a  number 
of  years,  engaged  my  attention,  and  excited  the 
liveliest  feelings  of  interest  in  my  bosom.  Until 
lately,  however,  I  had  no  knowledge  of  it,  except 
what  I  had  gathered  from  written  or  verbal  nar- 
ratives. Tke  reading,  or  hearing  of  these,  has 
often  kindled  in  my  breast  inexpressible  desires 
to  witness  and  to  feel  the  blessed  reality  of  a  re- 
vival. I  have  sometimes  thought,  especially 
when  I  have  been  listening  to  such  reports  in 
Synod  or  in  the  General  Assembly,  that  "now  I 
will  make  some  new  and  more  vigorous  effort 
than  I  have  yet  made,  and  peradventure  the  Lord 
W'iil  smile  upon  my  labour,  and  crown  it  with 
success."  But  such  feelings  were  of  short  du- 
ration. My  mind  soon  settled  down  to  its  or- 
dinary tone,  when  I  returned  to  my  old  scene  of 
labour;  and  I  thought  I  saw  so  many  difficulties 
in  the  way  that  I  often  sunk  into  a  state  of  des- 
pondency and  hopelessness.  I  was  conscious  of 
aiming,  at  least,  to  preach  the  whole  truth  of  the 
Gospel,  to  the  best  of  my  knowledge  and  ability; 
and  in  doing  this,  I  thought  I  must  leave  every 
thing  else  to  the  Divine  sovereignty.  On  this 
ground,  my  mind  was  much  more  at  rest  than  it 
ought  to  have  been.     I  was  neglecting  my  duty. 


Not  that  I  failed  to  fulli]  my  stated  appointmentSj 
when  health  and  other  circumstances  would  ad- 
mit 5  but  my  preaching  was  not  sufficiently  plain, 
and  pointed,  and  discriminating.  Another  great 
defect  was,  that  I  too  seldom  disturbed  the  con- 
science of  saint  or  sinner  in  private.  I  often 
conversed  on  the  subject  of  religion ;  but  it  was 
in  mch  a  ivay^  that  1  fear  it  did  but  little  good. 
It  is  as  necessary  that  we  should  be  close,  point- 
ed, solemn,  and  pressing,  when  preaching  the 
Gospel  to  an  individual,  or  to  a  few  individuals, 
in  private,  as  when  we  are  addressing  a  multi- 
tude in  public. 

At  length  I  was  removed,  by  the  providence 
of  God,  to  another  sphere  of  labour.  This  gave 
me  a  fresh  excitement ;  and  from  the  time  I  came 
to  my  present  situation,  I  felt  an  increasing  de- 
sire to  have  a  revival.  I  was  inquisitive  on  the 
subject,  and  tried  to  obtain  all  the  information  I 
could,  respecting  the  means  which  had  been 
most  remarkably  blessed.  Just  at  that  time,  I 
formed  an  acquaintance  with  a  young  man,  a 
student  of  theology,  who  had  been  in  several  re- 
vivals, and  who  had  conversed  with  the  Rev, 
Mr.  Nettleton  on  the  subject.  He  knew  Mr. 
Nettleton''s  views  and  plans  of  operation.  He 
stated  them  to  me ;  and  they  appeared  so  reason- 
able and  so  scriptural,  that  I  felt  no  hesitation  in 
receiving  them.  Believing  now,  that  if  ive  made 
use  of  the  proper  means  toe  rniglit  have  a  revival^ 
I  immediately  prepared  a  sermon  on  the  subject. 
After  service,  on  a  Sabbath  morning,  I  request- 
ed all  the  communicants  to  remain  a  short  time. 
We  then  addressed  them  more  particularly 
and  solemnly  on  the  subject;  and  concluded  by 


urging  them  to  meet,  two  or  three  together,  in 
different  parts  of  the  congregation,  to  converse 
and  pray  for  this  object.  On  the  same  evening, 
and  at  the  same  hour,  we  assembled  a  few 
young  people  at  a  private  house,  and  talked  to 
them  tenderly  and  solemnly,  about  the  concerns 
of  their  souls.  These  meetings  on  Monday 
evening  were  continued.  Meanwhile,  ice  visited 
from  house  to  house ^  and  conversed  w^ith  all  Vvi  h 
whom  we  met,  if  circumstances  appeared  to  be 
favourable.  We  came  to  the  point  without 
needless  ceremony,  and  as  soon  as  our  message 
was  delivered,  we  departed.  We  also  endea- 
voured to  impress  it  upon  the  minds  of  profess- 
ing christians,  that  now  they  ought  to  be  very 
solemn  and  much  engaged,  and  so  to  order  their 
conversation,  that  it  might  tend  to  deepen  the 
impression  which  we  wished  to  make  on  the 
minds  of  their  children  and  others  around  them. 
About  that  time  we  commenced  a  meeting  on 
Friday  evening,  foi^  tJie  professors  only^  with  a 
view  to  engage  them  in  such  exercises  as  would 
lead  them  to  self-examination,  self-abasement, 
humble  confession  to  God,  and  earnest  prayer 
for  the  out  pouring  of  his  spirit. 

We  had  hot  laboured  long  in  this  manner, 
before  we  saw  something  like  the  beginning  of  a 
w^ork  of  grace.  The  young  people  who  attend- 
ed our  Monday  evening  meeting,  evinced  more 
and  more  concern,  and  soon,  it  became  literally 
and  emphatically  an  anxious  meeting;  and  so  it 
continues  to  this  day.  The  beginning  of  this 
w^ork  w^as  about  the  latter  part  of  June,  1823. 
But  no   satisfactory  cases   of   conversion  took 


* 


6 

place  until  the  last  of  July.  Early  in  October, 
sixteen  persons  were  admitted  to  our  communion, 
as  the  first  fruits  of  the   revival.    The  day  on 
which  they  were   examined  and  received,  was 
observed  by  them,  and  by  the  communicants,  as 
a  day  of  fasting,  prayer  and  thanksgiving.     The 
exercises  of  the  communion  Sabbath,  were  great- 
ly blessed.     In  three  days  afterwards  there  were 
n  arly  thirty  hopeful  conversions.     On  the  22d 
November,  we  admitted  twenty-nine  more  to  our 
communion,  and  on  the  6th  of  February,  1824, 
we  admitted  eighteen ;  amounting  in  all,  to  six- 
ty-three    The   whole   number  of  hopeful  con- 
versions, is  between  eighty  and  ninety.      I  ti^ust 
the  good  work  is  still   going  on    in  this  congre- 
gation; and  there  are  very  encouraging  indica- 
tions of  a  similar   work  in  several  parts  of  the 
city.     There  is  a   union  prayer  meeting  every 
Saturday  evening,  which  is  crowded  by  the  pious 
of  different  denominations,  for   the  purpose   of 
praying  for  a  general  revival  of  religion.     In  my 
own   congregation,  we  have  a  meeting  of  some 
description  or  other,  every  evening  in  the  week. 
The  old  men,  the  young  men,  the  old  ladies  and 
the  young  ladies,  all  have  their  respective  meet- 
ings for  conference  and  prayer.   A  considerable 
proportion  of  young  men    are  subjects  of  this 
work.    A  large  majority,  however,  are    young 
females.     A  number  of  these  are  actively  em- 
ployed in  conducting  a  free  adult  female  school. 
They  have,  with  much  labour,  sought  out  the 
scholars    from  among  the  poor,  obtained  money 
to  defray  the  expenses  of  the  school,  and  devote 
two  nights  in  each  week  to  the  business  of  in- 
struction.   They  have  about  fifty  scholars  alrea- 


dy,  and  the  school  is  yet  in  its  infancy.  Much 
attention  is  paid  to  their  religious  instruction ; 
two  have  experienced  a  hopeful  change,  and 
many  others  are  much  concerned  about  the  stat% 
of  their  souls.  Nearly  all  the  teachers  in  our 
Sabbath  school,  are  now  the  professed  disciples 
of  Christ. 

Some  of  the  young  converts  have  met  with 
much  opposition,  and  they  have  displayed  a  de- 
gree of  firmness,  tempered  with  christian  meek- 
ness and  tenderness,  which  has  surprised  and 
delighted  me. 

Some  of  the  most  moral,  kind,  good-natured 
people,  in  the  estimation  of  the  world,  who  had 
long  been  resting  upon  their  morality  and  the 
goodness  of  their  natural  dispositions,  have  been 
convinced  that  they  also  had  "hearts  deceitful 
above  all  things  and  desperately  wicked."  They 
have  appeared  to  suffer  as  much  under  convic- 
tion, as  any  persons  I  have  seen ;  and  they  now 
regard  themselves  as  miracles  of  grace.  They 
think  their  condition  was,  above  all  others,  most 
dangerous;  and  w^onder  that  they  were  ever 
awakened  from  their  awful  delusion.  One  of 
these — an  old  lady — never  had  had  an  idea  of 
the  wickedness  of  her  heart,  until  in  a  conversa- 
tion with  her,  I  referred  her  to  those  passages  of 
scripture  which  relate  to  that  subject,  and  turn- 
ed down  the  leaves  of  her  Bible  to  them,  re- 
questing her  to  read  them  at  her  leisure,  and  re- 
flect upon  them. The  opposition  of  the  heart 

to  God,  has  been  felt  by  all;  but  some  have  felt 
it  in  a  much  higher  degree  than  others.  They 
have  been  surprised  and  affrighted,  to  find  that 
their  hearts  were  so  very  wicked,  beyond  every 


8 

thing  they  had  ever  conceived  of  themselves  be- 
fore.     They  have  been  constrained  to  confess, 
that  they  did  not  like  the  character  of  God;  that 
they  were  unwilling  to  put  themselves  into  his 
bond,  and  could  not  bear  the   idea  of  His  doing 
wiih  them  as  He  pleased.    One,  under  convic- 
tion, was  put  into  a  rage,  Vvhen  she  beard  that 
her  companions    had   obtained   hope.  Another, 
Vvhen  rising  from  her  knees  without  comfort,  has 
often  "gritted  her  teeth  against  the  Saviour" — 
her  own  expression — because    she  thought  He 
was  showing  more    favour  to  others  than  to  her. 
These  facts  are  stated,  because  they  illustrate 
the  scripture  doctrine,  of  the  enmity  of  tli^  sin- 
ner's heart  against  God ;  a  doctrine  which  has 
been  often  dwelt  upon  in  this  revival,  both  in 
public  and  in  private:  and  we  think  every  effort 
ought  to  be  made,  to  convince  the  impenitent, 
that  this  doctrine  is  true;  that  they  are,  indeed, 
what  the  Apostle    affirms  they  are,  "haters  of 
God."    Nothing  has  a  more  direct  tendency  to 
produce  the  conviction,  that  they  are  justly  con- 
demned and  lost. — Convictions  have  continued 
from  one  to  three  weeks.     Relief  has  been,  gen- 
eraly,  almost  instantaneous,  and   often  accom- 
panied with  much  sensible  joy.     This   joy  has 
sometimes  been  felt,    without   their   reflecting, 
that  the  change  they  had  experienced,  had  place- 
ed  them  in  a  state  of  safety^  as  true  believers. 
Their  joy  arose  from  the  actual  change    in  their 
dispositions    and   views.     Before,    their  hearts 
were  hard,  rebellious,  unwilling  to  submit  to 
God,   and  often  rose  against  Him.    But   now, 
they  melt  and  yield  sweetly  to  His  goverment, 
confessing  tl?ey  deserve  to  be  condemned,  and 


9 

fbeling,  it  is  right  that  God  should  do  with  them 
as  He  please.  They  have  such  a  view  of  His 
character,  that  they  are  cordially  reconciled  to 
Him:  yea,  more  than  reconciled;  they  love  Him, 
rejoice  in  Him,  and  make  an  unreserved  surren- 
der of  themselves  to  Him.  And  this  they  do, 
not  because  they  feel  assured  He  will  save  them ; 
but  because  they  see  it  is  right  they  should  do 
so, tcJietJier  He  save  tJiem  or  not.  Christ  is  pre- 
cious to  them,  and  they  appear  willing  to  part 
with  any  thing  for  Him,  and  to  take  up  the  cross 
for  His  sake.  Some  have  submitted  to  sacrifices 
and  self-denials  for  conscience  sake  and  from 
love  to  the  Saviour,  which  come  nearer  to  the 
example  of  primitive  christians,  than  any  thing 
I  had  before  witnessed.  Others,  when  the 
change  has  taken  place,  have  experienced  a  calm, 
sweet  peace  of  mind,  accompanied  by  a  strong 
desire  for  the  salvation  of  sinners.  All  unite  in 
saying,  the  very  moment  they  were  heartily  wil- 
ling to  give  up  all  for  Christ,  and  to  surrender 
themselves  uiirescrvedly  to  Him,  they  found  re- 
lief. They  wonder  that  they  should  not  have 
been  willing  before;  or  that  they  should  have 
thought  it  so  difiicult  to  comply  with  terms 
which  now  appear  so  easy  and  so  reasonable. 
They  see  that  all  the  change  that  has  taken 
place,  has  been  in  themselves;  that  God  is  the 
same  nov>^,  that  He  was  when  they  were  think- 
ing so  very  hardly  of  Him ;  that  their  cries  of 
distress  did  not  move  Him  to  change  liis  terms; 
but  that  they  are  now  ivilling  to  comply  with 
them,  which  they  had  never  been  before,  althouji  h 
they  t/iea  thought  they  were  willing.  All  ap- 
pear to  have  been  brought  to  neai'iy  the  same 


10 

state  of  mind,  before  they  found  relief:  namely, 
to  feel  that  they  were  lost.  Matth.  xviii.  11. 
Some,  after  having  done  all  they  could,  as  they 
thought,  have  been  tempted  to  give  up  the  pur- 
suit of  religion  as  hopeless.  One  remained  in 
this  state  for  a  day  or  two,  without  doing  any 
thing;  but  in  a  miserable  state  of  mind.  At 
length,  she  found,  that  after  all  her  doings,  she 
had  not  done  the  very  thing  she  was  commanded 
to  do,  and  which  alone  could  save  her.  She  had 
not  repented  and  given  up  Jwrself  to  Christ  as  a 
lost  sinner.  She  therefore  made  another  vigor- 
ous effort,  feeling  that  it  was  a  case  of  life  or 
death,  and  late  at  night  she  found  rest  to  her  soul. 
Another,  in  a  similar  state  of  mind,  was  tempted 
to  think  there  was  no  reality  in  religion,  or  she 
would  have  obtained  it.  She  thought  she  had  done 
as  much  as  others,  and  that  they  were  deceived 
in  supposing  they  had  experienced  such  a  change. 
She  was  soon  convinced,  however,  that  she  had 
mistaken  the  matter,  and  that  while  she  had 
done  many  things,  she  had  neglected  to  do  the 
very  thing  the  Gospel  requires ;  namely,  to  re- 
pent and  believe  in  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ.  In 
this  state  of  mind  she  returned  home  from  a 
prayer  meeting,  and  continued  all  night  in  pray- 
er, reading,  &c.  and  just  about  the  break  of  day, 
she  found  rest  to  her  soul. 

I  could  state  m.any  other  interesting  facts ;  but 
it  would  extend  the  narrative  to  an  improper 
length. 

tVhatl  have  witnessed  in  this  revival,  has 
convinced  me  of  the  following  things: — 

1st.  That  many  are  deceived  in  fancying  they 
desire  to  have  a  revival,  and  that  they  are  doing 


11 

every  thing  in  their  power  to  promote  that  object, 
and  yet,  God  will  not  grant  the  blessing.    I  was 
long  under  this  mistake,  and  I  fear  it  is  a  very 
common  one.     We  are  too  apt  to  take  our  stand- 
ard of  duty  from  custom,  rather  -than  from  the 
word  of  God.     We  are  influenced  more  than  we 
ought  to  be,  by  the  defective  examples  of  those 
whom  we  regard   as  our  superiors  in   age  or 
abilities;  and  we  often  take  it  for  granted,  that 
because  we  are  doing  as  much  as  ministers  and 
christians  generally  do,  that  therefore  nothing 
more  is  required  of  us.     Many  are  so  well  satis- 
fied with  the  old,  beaten  track  that  has,  long, 
been  pursued,  that  they  seem  to  say — although 
they  would  not  adopt  the  very  words — "If  God 
will  not  meet  us  in  this  way,  we  will  not  go  out 
of  it  to  meet  Him."     Some  preach  the  Gospel 
with  much  apparent  zeal  and  animation;  but 
they  seem  to  forget  that  they  have  a  great  work 
to  do  out  of  the  pulpit,  as  well  as  in  the  pulpit. 
Ministers  may  preach  regularly,  and  the  people 
may  attend  punctually;  but  where  other  means 
are  not  employed,  much  success  has  rarely  been 
witnessed.    The  impression  made  by  the  labours 
of  the  Sabbath,  ought,  as  far  as  practicable,  to  be 
followed  up  and  deepened  by  close  personal  con- 
versation.    Such  continual  etForts  to  do  good, 
would  have  a  salutary  reaction  upon  ourselves, 
and  would  often  furnish  most  interesting  and 
useful  materials  for  the  composition  of  sermons. 
Besides — the  habit  of  conversing  with  persons 
of  every  description  about  the  concenrs  of  their 
souls,  has  a  better  tendency  than  any  thing  we 
hear  from  our  most  faithful  theological  instruc- 
tors,  to  correct  that  stiffness  and  formality  of 


12 

style  and  manner,  which  detract  so  much  from 
the  usefulness  of  many  young  ministers;  and- to 
b 'ing  us  to  thai  natural^  familiar^  simple  method 
of  illustrating  and  enforcing  divine  truth,  which 
has  ever  charaterised  the  preaching  of  those 
who  have  been  most  extensively  useful.  Plain, 
pointed  conversation,  exhibiting  that  earnestness 
which  ought  to  be  felt  when  we  are  engaged  in 
such  an  employment,  is  the  means  on  which  I 
most  rely,  under  the  blessing  of  God,  for  com- 
mencing and  carrying  on  a  revival.  It  alarms 
sinners  to  be  attacked  in  this  unusual  way.  It 
often  makes  them  tremble,  and  sometimes  pro- 
duces considerable  irritation.  But  it  is  proba- 
bly the  best  method  that  ever  was  tried,  of  pro- 
ducing convictions  of  sin.  This  fills  up  the 
anxious  meetmgs;  and  we  shall  often  be  surpris- 
ed to  find  at  these  meetings,  persons,  on  whom 
we  had  supposed  our  conversation  had  made  no 
salutary  impression.  I  re^'ard  this  method  of 
"preaching  the  Gospel  to  every  creature"  as  be- 
ing so  pre-eminently  important,  that  I  would  be 
glad  to  have  an  opportunity  of  beseeching  every 
minister  who  has  neglected  it,  to  make  a  fair 
experiment  of  it,  as  far  as  his  health  and  circum- 
stances will  admit.  I  know  there  are  many,  who 
are  much  more  faithful  and  useful  in  this  and 
every  other  department  of  ministerial  labour, 
than  I  have  ever  been.  But  I  also  know,  there 
are  many  who  have  never  made  any  thing  like  a 
full  experiment  of  the  power  of  this  engine  for 
destroying  the  kingdom  of  Satan.  To  such  I 
would  say — Dear  brethren,  be  intreated  to  make 
trial  of  this  method  of  arousing  the  attention  of 
your  people,  both  saints  and  sinners.     Examine 


£3 

tween  hating  and  loving  God.     Will  he  then 
accept  of  any  services  from  those,  whose  hearts  He 
knows  are  at  enmity  with  Him,  even  while  they 
are  most  assiduously  perfonning  their  religious 
duties  ?  How  can  they  be  said  to  be  in  a  hopeful 
way,  or  in  the  way  to  obtain  religion,  while  they 
remain  in  this  state  of  mind?    Is  sinning  directly 
against  God  in  their  hearts,  the  way  to  obtain 
religion  ?     Is  the  indulgence  of  enmity,  the  way 
to  come  to  the  exercise  of  love?     Is  the  indul- 
gence of  pride,  stubbornness,  and  rebellion,  the 
way  to  come  to  humble  submission  ?     There  is 
no  medium  between  these  two  states  of  the  heart; 
no  more  than  there  is  between  enmity  and  love. 
Then,  the  sinner  is  a  rebel  until  he  submits. 
But,  will  God  accept  the  service  of  the  knees  or 
of  the  lips,  while  the  heart  remains  rebellious? 
Is  not  submission — implying  a  cordial  acquies- 
cence in  the  terms  of  the  Gospel — the  first  point 
where  hope  begins,  and  where  God  manifests 
the  tokens  of  his  favour?     Why  not  come  to 
this  point,  then,  immediately,  if  we  must  come 
to  it  at  last,  in  order  to  be  saved?     Ought  we 
not  to  urge  tliis  duty  upon  the  awakened  sinner, 
with  all  the  power  of  arguinent,  of  warning,  and 
of  intreaty?    endeavouring  to  take  from  under 
him  every  prop  on  wliich  he  is  resting,  that  ha 
might  fall  immediately,  as  a  lost  sinner,  at  the 
foot-stool  of  sovereign  mercy — crying — "Lord 
save  or  I  perish!*"     Should  we  not  endeavour  to 
impress  it  upon  his   mind,  that  he  is  growing 
woi'se  and  worse,  and*  his  condition  becomin'^ 
more  and  more  hopeless,  notwitlistanding  all  his 
distress  and  all  his  prayers,  until  he  comes  to 
this  point?  and  not  suffer  him,  if  we  can  help  it. 


24^ 

to  go  on  toiling  and  labouring  in  fruitless  at 
tempts  to  save  himself,  or  to  bring  God  down  to 
any  other  terms  than  those  He  has  prescribed  in 
His  word.  He  professes  to  be  going  to  Christ; 
and  we  ought  to  tell  him — Christ  is  at  your  right 
hand,  and  ready  to  receive  you  in  a  moment,  if 
you  are  ready  to  receive  Him,  with  a  peniient, 
willing  and  obedient  heart.  But  the  rout  you 
are  taking  is,  at  best,  a  very  circuitous  one,  and 
there  are  a  thousand  probabilities  that,  in  your 
wanderings,  you  will  lose  your  impressions,  or 
settle  down  on  a  formal  profession,  and  so  never 
come  to  Christ.  Therefore,  accept  of  His  invi- 
tation, and  "come,  for  all  things  are  now  ready." 
In  giving  directions  to  awakened  sinners,  we 
are  sometimes  led  into  error,  by  a  species  of 
false  charity,  thinking,  that  as  they  are  now  under 
so  much  religious  concern,  their  hearts  are  not  so 
wicked  as  the  Bible  represents  the  hearts  of  all 
unconverted  persons  to  be.  The  direction  to 
which  I  am  now  objecting,  goes  upon  the  as- 
sumption, that  they  are  not  so  wicked.  "You 
must  repent — ^but  whotlier  you  repent  immedi- 
ately or  not,  you  must  use  the  means  of  grace. '^ 
This  is  giving  the  sinner  quarters,  where  God  does 
not  design  he  should  have  any.  From  enemies 
and  rebels,  He  accepts  of  nothing  but  uncondi- 
tional submission.  He  will  make  no  compro- 
mise. Repent  or  perish,  is  the  only  condition. — 
But  he  is  now  under  conviction,  and  he  has 
many  tender  feelings,  and  sheds  a  great  many 
tears.  Does  not  this  lessen  his  enmity,  and  will 
it  not,  by  using  the  means  of  grace,  be  gradual- 
ly softened  down  and  changed  into  love.^ — If 
tliis  be  admitted,  we  must  conclude,  that  when 


21 

derstancl  what  they  mean  by  religion ;  it  is  the 
pardon  of  their  sins,  and  some  assurance  that 
they  will  be  happy  when  they  die.  This  is  the 
sum  total  of  the  religion  they  desire,  and  this  is 
what  they  are  seeking.  It  is  no  wonder,  then, 
that  they  do  not  find  it,  when  we  consider  that 
God  has  promised  no  such  religion  in  the  Bible, 
It  would  be  separating  what  He  has  joined  to- 
jretlier.  He  has  promised  to  pardon  none  but 
those  who  repent,  believe  and  obey.  To  others, 
who  may  pretend  to  seek  His  favours,  He  says — 
"When  ye  spread  forth  your  hands,  I  will  hide 
mine  eyes ;  yea,  when  you  make  many  prayers, 
I  will  not  hear." 

What  then,  it  may  be  asked,  is  the  distressed, 
impenitent  sinner  to  do,  when  he  cannot  desire 
the  holy,  humbling  religion  of  the  Gospel?  or 
feel  willing  to  submit  to  God,  and  to  render  to 
Him  that  homage  of  the  heart,  which  He  re- 
quires.^ Must  he  cease  from  praying?  The  an- 
swer is  obvious.  The  want  of  a  right  disposi- 
tion towards  God,  cannot  release  him  from  the 
obligation  of  prayer,  or  of  any  other  duty.  It  is 
as  much  his  duty  to  pray,  as  if  he  were  the  ho- 
liest saint  on  earth.  All  that  is  required  of  the 
christian,  is  required  of  him;  and  yet  he  does 
nothing  acceptably.  His  heart  is  altogether 
wrong  in  the  sight  of  God,  and  that  pollutes  all, 
and  brings  the  sentence  of  condemnation  upon 
all  he  does.  His  sins  are  increasing  continual 
ly ;  nothing  but  the  mere  mercy  of  God  keeps 
him  out  of  hell  for  a  moment;  and  soon  he  must 
be  there,  unless  he  submit  and  consent  to  be 
saved  on  the  terms  of  the  Gospel.  If,  with  this 
ti'uth  impressed  upon  his  mind,  he  cannot  be 


22 

willing  to  comply  with  these  terms,  there  is  no 
hope  for  him.  Without  this  willingness,  he 
cannot  he  saved,  although  he  should  spend  his 
days  and  his  nights  too  in  weeping  and  in  sup- 
plication. If  he  still  ask — how  am  I  to  feel  this 
willingness.^  We  answer,  the  question  involves 
an  absurdity.  How  is  a  man,  whose  body  is 
perishing  and  dying  for  the  want  of  nourishment, 
to  feel  a  desire  for  that  nourishment,  and  a  wil- 
lingness to  receive  it  when  it  is  offered  to  him.'^ 
If  he  says  he  does  not  desire  it,  and  will  not  re- 
ceive it — that  being  the  only  means  of  preserv- 
ing his  life ; — why — he  must  die.  And  so  we 
say  to  the  sinner.  Here  are  the  bread  and  the 
water  of  life.  If  you  are  hungry,  eat;  if  you 
are  thirsty  drink.  If  you  will  not — you  must 
die. 

The  error  I  am  now  combatting,  seems  to  arise 
from  the  erroneous  supposition,  that  when  the 
sinner  is  awakened,  and  begins  to  reform  his 
external  conduct,  and  to  use  the  means  of  grace, 
his  heart  is  growing  better  in  the  sight  of  God; 
that  he  is  becoming  less  and  less  unworthy ;  and 
that  by  tills  gradual  diminution  of  his  unworthi- 
ness,  he  is  making  a  gradual  approximation  to- 
wards a  right  state  of  feeling.  Hence  the  direc- 
tion— ^'•Continue  praying — -persevere — you  are 
in  a  hopeful  way — after  a  while  you  will  obtain 
religion,"  &c, 

We  ought  to  consider  what  the  Bible  says, 
respecting  the  state  of  those,  to  whom  we  give 
this  direction.  It  describes  them  as  being  ene- 
mies and  rebels  against  God.  "We  will  not 
have  this  man  to  reign  over  us;"  is  the  language 
of  their  hearts.     Now,  there  is  no  medium  be- 


17 

not  committing  a  wilful  aggravated  sin,  which 
deserves  the  damnation  of  hell;  but  only  running 
a  RISK  in  waiting  until  they  shall  be  enabled  to 
repent?  They  have  the  notion,  that  repentance 
is  something  which  must,  indeed,  be  done  in  or- 
der to  their  salvation.  But  instead  of  laying  it 
to  heart  as  an  immediate  duty,  which  they  are 
under  the  strongest  obligations  to  perform ;  they 
think  they  must  wait  until  God  does  it  for  them. 
The  EXTENT  to  which  their  conviction  of  duty 
in  the  case,  commonly  goes,  is  to  ask  of  God, 
grace  to  enable  them  to  do,  w^hat  they  think  they 
could  not  do,  however  much  they  might  be  dis- 
posed to  do  it. — Is  this  anti-scriptiu-al  and  destruc- 
tive error  combated  as  much  as  it  ought  to  be  ? 
Are  sinners  given  to  understand,  that  nothing  pre- 
vents them  from  repenting,  but  their  opposition  to 
God  and  unwillingness  to  submit  to  the  terms  of 
the  Gospel,  which  state  of  feeling  it  is  infinitely 
sinful  for  them  to  indulge  for  a  moment.^  Is  it 
clearly  explained  to  them,  that  repentance  con- 
sists in  ceasing  from  this  state  of  hostility  to  God, 
and  in  exercising  right  feelings  towards  Him? 
That  God  will  accept  of  nothing  from  them,  as  a 
substitute  for  this  change  of  mind?  That  He  re- 
quires this  of  them  in  the  first  place ;  and  that  until 
they  do  this,  they  escape  no  danger,  and  perform 
no  duty  to  Him;  but  that  their  condition,  in- 
stead of  becoming  more  safe,  by  their  external, 
heartless  services,  is  waxing  worse  and  worse ; 
inasmuch  as  they  are  hardening  their  hearts 
against  God,  refusing,  like  Pharaoh,  to  himible 
themselves  before  Him,  and  seeking  to  reconcile 
Him  to  them,  without  complying  with  those  conv 


18 

ditions,  on  which  alone,  He  has  promised  to  ex- 
ercise mercy  to  sinners?  I  confess,  I  have  sel- 
dom heard  these  truths  as  clearly  stated,  and  as 
forcibly  urged,  as  they  ought  to  be.  Sinners 
are,  indeed,  often  told,  they  must  repent  or  pe- 
rish ;  but  the  guilt  of  neglecting  to  do  this  duty 
hnmediately,  is  not  sufficiently  insisted  upon. 
And  when  they  are  awakeiTed,  instead  of  having 
this  duty  urged  upon  them  with  all  the  force  of 
divine  authority,  it  is  often  taken  for  granted, 
that  they  are  already  penitent;  and  they  are 
pitied  and  prayed  for  as  mourners,  who  are  wil- 
ling to  be  saved  if  God  will  only  convert  them ; 
when  their  distress  arises  from  nothing  but  the 
fear  of  hell,  and  the  struggling  of  a  wicked  and 
rebellious  heart  against  the  duty  of  immediate 
submission  to  God,  on  the  terms  of  the  Gospel. 
In  this  state  of  mind,  the  direction  commonly 
given  to  them  is,  to  persevere  in  praying  and 
using  the  means  of  grace.  Those  w^ho  give 
this  direction,  will  doubtless  tell  them  they  must 
repent  also ;  but  whether  they  are  disposed  to 
repent  immediately  or  not,  ihc^j  must,  neverthe- 
less, continue  praying,  since  prayer  is  a  means 
of  grace. — This  goes  upon  the  assumption,  that 
God  has,  somewhere,  promised  to  meet  the  sin- 
ner upon  this  ground,  and  to  bless  him  while  he 
Isuiiwiliing  to  submit,  and  to  renounce  his  sins; 
and  that  merely  becaust3  he  is  externally  observ- 
ing a  divine  institution.  Such  a  promise,  it 
would  be  difficult  to  find. — To  persons  in  the 
state  of  mind  here  supposed,  the  word  of  God 
contains  no  promise  of  good,  but  many  denunci- 
ations of  evil.  Evil  is  represented  as  "pursuing'' 
them>  "Evil  pursueth  sinners."    "God  is  angry 


19 

with  tlie  wicked  every  day."  They  are  "con- 
demned ah^eady,"  and  can  never  know  at  one  mo- 
ment that  they  will  not  be  in  hell  the  nex4 — If 
then,  God  has  given  them  no  promise  of  good, 
while  they  remain  impenitent  rebels — and  such 
they  may  be,  even  when  greatly  distressed  from 
the  fear  of  punishment — it  is  clear,  that  in  or- 
der to  have  any  scriptural  ground  to  hope  their 
prayers  will  be  heard  and  accepted,  they  must, 
in  the  first  place,  cease  from  their  impenitence 
and  rebellion,  by  a  cordial  and  unreserved  sub- 
mission to  the  terms  of  the  Gospel.  What  au- 
thority have  I  then,  to  encourage  them  to  hope 
that  they  will  receive  any  favour  from  God,  in 
answer  to  their  impenitent  prayers  ?  Or  to  give 
them  any  direction,  the  tendency  of  which  would 
be  to  make  them  believe  they  are  in  the  way  to 
obtain  religion,  w^hen  they  do  not  desire  it,  and 
are  unwilling  to  have  it,  on  the  only  terms  on 
which  God  will  bestow  it. 

Let  no  one  suppose  I  am  here  maintaining 
the  antinomian  doctrine,  that  it  is  not  the  duty 
of  sinners  to  pray.  I  am  only  opposing  the  pre- 
posterous method  of  telling  them  to  pr*ay,  when 
they  ought  to  repent,  which  completely  reverses 
the  direction  of  scripture.  It  is  their  unques- 
tionable duty  to  pray.  But  how  must  they  pray? 
With  an  impenitent  heart?  Certainly  not.  See 
Isaiah,  chap.  i.  11 — 15. 

If  they  still  say  tliey  cannot  pray  with  a  pe- 
nitent heart,  until  they  have  first  prayed  with  an 
impenitent  heart,  for  grace  to  enable  them  to 
repent,  then  they  have  the  controversy  to  settle 
with  God,  who  commands  the  duty,  and  who 
has  forbidden  them  to  indulge  the  hope,  that  He 


20 

will  accept  any  oifering  at  their  hands,  if  they 
approach  Him  in  any  other  state  of  mind. 

TJ^  above  direction  also  assumes,  that  what  is 
a  means  of  grace  to  the  penitent  believer,  an- 
swers the  same  purpose  to  persons  of  the  oppo- 
site character;  that  an  external  service,  which 
God  has  promised  to  accept  and  bless,  when 
rightly  performed,  He  will  accept  and  bless  whe- 
ther it  be  performed  right  or  wrong! 

Those  with  whom  I  am  i:ow  contending  will 
admit,  that  prayer  is  the  offering  up  of  the  de- 
sires of  the  heart  to  God.  The  question  then 
may  be  settled  by  ascertaining,  what  are  the 
real  desires  of  an  impenitent  sinner's  heart. 
While  he  remains  entirely  careless,  it  will  be 
readily  admitted,  that  his  desires,  if  expressed 
even  on  his  knees,  would  not  be  pleasing  to 
God.  But  he  becomes  alarmed  by  a  conviction 
of  danger,  and  is  in  great  distress  on  that  ac- 
count. What  does  he  desire  now?  Has  his 
distress  changed  the  disposition  of  his  soul  so 
much,  that  now  he  really  desires  to  be  holy?  If 
so,  he  is  no  longer  the  character  of  which  I  am 
now  speaking:  that  is  to  say — he  is  not  an  im- 
penitent sinner;  for  it  involves  a  contradiction 
to  say,  an  impenitent  sinner  desires  to  be  holy. 
How  can  he  desire  to  be  holy,  when  he  is  not 
sorry  that  he  has  sinned  against  God,  on  any 
other  account,  than  because  his  sins  expose  him 
to  punishm.ent?  The  Apostle  says,  he  is  at  en- 
mity against  God.  To  say,  then,  that  he  desires 
to  be  holy,  is  equivalent  to  saying,  he  desires  to 
love  God  when  be  hates  Him!  Wlien  sinners, 
therefore,  say  they  are  in  distress  and  desire  to 
have  religion,  and  yet  cannot  obtain  it,  we  un- 


15 

make  direct  applications  as  we  proceed; — no 
matter  who  may  be  affected  by  them.  In  order 
to  do  this,  a  minister  must  obtain  much  of  that 
independent  spirit,  of  that  simple  desire  to  please 
God,  and  to  save  the  souls  of  men,  w^hich  charac- 
terized the  Saviour  when  He  condescended  to 
perform  the  work  of  the  ministry. — When  we 
are  addressing  a  very  ignorant  audience,  or  a 
congregation  of  Africans,  we  feel  no  concern  as 
to  what  they  will  think  of  our  performance. 
Our  aim  is  to  give  them  simple,  plain  instruc- 
tion ;  to  convey  to  their  minds  clear, distinct  views 
of  divine  truth.  In  this  way,  with  the  blessing 
of  God,  we  hope  to  make  a  saving  impression. 
Such  should  be  our  feelings  and  such  our  aim, 
whensoever,  wheresoever,  and  to  whomsoever, 
we  may  be  called  to  preach  the  Gospel. 

There  is,  in  my  humble  apprehension,  too 
much  speculatino:,  philosophizing,  and  systcmat* 
izing,  in  most  of  the  sermons  we  hear.  This 
mode  of  preaching,  however  interesting  it  may 
be  to  students  of  theology,  and  to  men  of  culti- 
vated  minds,  is  so  much  above  the  thoughts  arid 
reasonings  of  common  people,  that  they  receive 
no  distinct  impression  from  it.  Such  labour  i.*j 
worse  than  lost  on  the  great  majority  of  hearers. 
It  leads  many  to  regard  religion  as  an  intellec- 
tual affair,  consisting  chiefly  in  rational  and  or- 
thodox opinions;  and  others  to  invest  the  sub- 
ject with  mysteries  and  difficulties,  which  do  not 
properly  belong  to  it.  Sermons  of  this  descrip 
tion  seldom,  if  ever,  disquiet  the  conscience; 
and  one  might  presume,  from  their  structure  and 
the  materials  of  which  they  are  composed,  and 
the  indifferent  manner  in  which  they  are  often 


In 
0 

delivered,  that  they  are  not  designed  to  have  that 
effect — The  Gospel  is  not  likely  to  prove  the 
power  and  the  wisdom  of  God  to  the  salvation 
of  sinners,  unless  they  who  preach  it,  re( collect 
that  they  have  to  do  with  the  hearts  and  consci- 
ences, as  well  as  the  intellects  of  men. 

Nothing  is  so  well  calculated  to  rectify 
the  error  of  which  I  am  now  speaking,  where 
it  exists  in  the  mind  of  one  who  really  desires 
to  be  useful,  as  the  habit  of  conversing  freely 
and  closely  with  individuals.  This  will  soon 
convince  any  man  of  common  discernment,  of 
the  necessity  of  adopting  a  style  of  preaching, 
similar,  in  some  respects,  to  that  of  Christ  and 
-his  Apostles.  But  they  who  would  do  this  at 
the  present  day,  when  a  different  style  has  be- 
come so  common  and  so  popular,  ought  to  count 
the  cost.  They  must  be  willing  to  sacrifice 
their  •  reputation  for  scholastic  learning,  and  to 
take  that  place  in  the  public  estimation,  which 
will  be  assigned  them  by  "the  wisdom  of  this 
world,''  which  we  know  is  "foolishness  with 
God.*'  They  must  learn  to  despise  the  pro- 
phane  criticisms  of  the  ungodly,  while  they 
commend  themselves  to  God,  and  to  every  man's 
conscience  in  the  sight  of  God. 

3d.  I  have  also  been  convinced,  that  the  obli- 
gation of  the  sinner  to  repent  and  submit  to 
God  IMMEDIATELY,  is  too  little  insisted  on.  Re- 
pentance is  indeed  a  common  topic  of  discourse ; 
but  I  would  submit  it  to  the  consideration  of 
every  judicious  Christian,  whether  this  subject 
is  not  often  spoken  of  in  such  a  manner,  as 
leaves  the  impression  on  the  minds  of  sinners, 
that  in  refusing  to  repent  immediately,  they  are 


13 

the  former  closely,  on  experimental  and  practical 
religion;  show  them  their  duties  and  responsi- 
bilities in  all  their  extent,  and  your  hearts  will 
often  burn  witliin  you,  wliile  thus  conversing  to- 
gether;— and  a  book  of  remembrance  will  be 
written  in  Heaven, — And  as  to  tlic  latter,  let 
them  see  that  you  feel  concerned  for  them,  and 
can  be  faithful  to  them  in  private  as  well  as  m 
public;  and  in  discharging  this  duty,  let  meek- 
ness, and  prudence,  and  love,  be  associated  with 
zeal, — and  verily  the  Lord  will  bless  your  la 
hour. 

Persons  who  begin  to  exliibit  more  than  usual 
seriousness  and  attention  to  religion,  ought,  if 
possible,  to  be  visited  frequently.  They  strive 
against  their  impressions,  and  they  will  often  be 
successful,  unless  w^e  belabour  them,  time  after 
time,  and  almost  compel  them  to  think,  and  con- 
sider  what  they  are  doing.  They  will  sometime^ 
try  to  keep  out  of  our  way,  and  perhaps,  fly  from 
us  as  from  an  enemy ;  but  we  must  not  be  dis 
coiu'aged.  Many,  in  this  revival,  have  been 
awakened,  and  now  give  good  evidence  of  a 
change  of  heart,  who  felt  and  acted  in  this  man 
nsr ;  and  now  they  believe,  that  but  for  these 
persev^ering  efforts  on  our  part,  they  would  have 
been  lost  forever. — There  are  many  in  such  a 
state  of  mind,  that  the  ordinary  means  of  public 
instruction,  do  not  appear  to  reacli  their  case. 
Some  are  so  stupid,  that  they  cannot,  with  the 
little  interest  they  feel  on  the  subject,  understand 
a  common  sermon;  and  others  are  so  thought- 
less, or  so  worldly,  that  they  will  not  be  made  to 
reflect,  or  brought  to  close  self-examination,  by 


14 

any  discourse  addressed  to  a  promiscuous  as- 
sembly. In  this  state  they  may  attend  the  house 
of  God  for  many  years,  and  at  last,  without 
something  like  a  miracle  of  sovereign  mercy, 
they, will  die  in  ignorance  and  in  sin.  And  will 
not  their  blood  be  required  at  the  watchman's 
hand,  who,  from  indolence,  or  the  love  of  repu- 
tation, neglected  to  warn  the  wicked  man  of  his 

way,  in  private  as  well  as  in  public. '^ 1  would 

here  remark,  that  while  thus  labouring  with  in- 
dividuals, it  is  a  good  maxim,  to  Hight  no  more 
fires  than  we  can  ivell  attend^ — In  this  work  of 
faith  and  labour  of  love,  the  minister  ought  to 
be  aided  by  his  elders  and  other  private  chris- 
tians. They  should  all  lay  the  subject  to  heart; 
converse  and  pray  together,  as  the  disciples  did 
before  the  day  of  Pentecost.  They  were  en- 
gaged "with  one  accord;"  they  had  one  object  in 
view;  they  had  one  desire  respecting  it;  that 
desire  dictated  one  prayer,  and  every  heartfelt  it. 
All  who  have  read  the  Acts  of  the  Apostles, 
know  what  was  the  result. 

2d.  I  have  also  been  more  than  ever  convinc- 
ed of  the  necessity  of  plain .^  pungent.^  discrimi- 
nating preaching.  I  do  not  mean,  merely,  that 
we  should  use  plain  words ;  for  that  we  may  do 
in  the  most  abstruse  argumentation.  But  I 
mean,  that  we  should  aim  as  much  as  possible 
to  simplify  divine  truth,  by  employing  such  il- 
lustrations as  are  familiar  and  easy  of  compre- 
hension. We  should  endeavour  to  make  things 
so  plain,  that  our  hearers  may  see  them  inth  tJwir 
own  eyes^  and  that  too  without  much  labour  of 
mind. — I  mean,  also,  that  we  should  not  be 
afraid  to  call  things  by  their  proper  names,  or  to 


25 

the  Apostle  characterizes  the  impenitent  as  ^'haters  of 
God,"  he  only  meant,  that  they  hate  an  erroneous  idea  of 
God,  and  not  his  true  character.  Is  this  a  sin?  Is  it  not 
our  duty  to  hate  every  false  representation  of  Jehovah's 
character? 

Doubtless  the  Apostle  meant,  what  his  words  plainly 
express,  that  sinners  hate  the  true  character  of  God. 
The  reason  why  this  hatred  is  not  universally  felt,  is» 
that  they  have  a  wrong  view  of  God.     They  regard  Him 
as  a  kind  Father,  Benefactor,  &c. — leaving  out  ot  view 
his  holiness,  his  justice,  his  sovereignty.     It  is  against 
these  attributes,  that  the  enmity  of  the  sinner's  heart  is 
directed.     The  light  of  conviction  then,  which  brings 
them  into  view,  so  far  from  lessening  his  enmity,  increases 
it;  and  it  continues  to  increase,  to  the  very  last  moment, 
before  the  rebel  is  subdued. — It  is  true,  therefore,  to  say, 
that  the  convicted,  as  well  as  the  careless  sinner,  is  wax- 
ing worse  and  worse,  and  that  his  sins  are  increasing  con- 
tinually, in  a  most  tremendous  ratio,  if  there  be  any  sii 
in  hating  God,  arid  in  that  pride  and  stubbornness  of  the 
heart,  which  refuses  to  submit  to  the  terms  of  the  Gospel. 
This  truth  ought  to  be  thundered  in  his  ears,  until  he  is 
made  to  feel  it.     Of  course,  we  ought  not  to  give  him  any 
encouragement  to  continue  in  this  state  for  a  moment,  or 
to  hope  he  is  improving  his  condition,  or  lessening  the  dif- 
liculties  in  the  way  of  his  salvation,  by  his  prayers,  or 
any  thing  else  he  does.     Nay,  verily,  these  difficulties  are 
augmenting,  and  he  is  receding  farther  and  farther  from 
that  state  of  mind  to  whieh  he  is  required  to  come.  There 
is,  therefore,  but  one  way  of  safety  for  him;  and  that  is 
immediate  repentance.     He  must  change  his  mind — cease 
from  being  a  rebel — submit  unreservedly  and  uncondi- 
tionally; and  while  he  confesses  he  deserves  condemna- 
tion, give  himself  up  to  Christ,  to  be  saved  on  the  terms 
of  the  Gospel. — When  the  awakened  sinner  is  pressed 
with  these  requirements,  and  no  hope  is  held  out  to  him 
on  any  other  conditions;  it  will  soon  discover  to  him  the 
desperate  wickedness  of  his  heart;  for  he  will  feel  that 
he  is  opposed  to  these  requirements,  and  think  it  hard 
that  God  will  accept  of  nothing  he  does,  without  a  com- 
pliance with  them.     When  his  distress  is  very  great,  he 
would  be  willing  to  give  any  thing  he  possesses,  to  obtain 

3 


26 

peace  and  safety;  he  would  perform  any  external  ser- 
vice— travel  on  a  pilgrimage,  or,  say  his  prayers  as  often 
as  you  please.  But  this  duty  of  unconditional  and  imme- 
diate submission  to  a  sovereign  God,  freely  acknowledg- 
ing that  God  is  right,  and  that  himself  is  wrong;  that  there 
is  not  a  particle  of  merit  in  any  thing  he  ever  did;  that  he 
can  lay  God  under  no  obligations  to  save  him;  that  he 
must  rely  entirely  upon  Christ  for  salvation — be  -'willing 
and  obedient" — against  all  this,  his  heart  rises  and  rebels,, 
even  when  his  understandmg  is  convinced  that  there  is 
no  hope  for  him  on  any  other  ground. — Here  he  is  at  his 
wits'  end;  in  the  very  dilemma  in  which  it  is  the  design, 
of  both  the  law  and  the  gospel,  to  make  him  feel  that  he 
is  placed,  in  order  to  impress  full}^  upon  his  mind,  the 
awful  conviction  that  he  is  lost.  This,  and  nothing  but 
this,  will  bring  him  to  Christ,  and  make  him  willing  to  be 
saved  on  any  terms. 

The  directions  which  are  often  given  to  awakened  sin- 
ners, have  a  very  different  tendency.     In  the  tirst  place, 
they  tend  to  lessen  the  conviction  of  guilt,   while  a  great 
deal  is  said  about  danger.     Here  is  a  person  in  distress; 
we  dislike  to  increase  it,  by  telling  hmi,  his  heart  is  re- 
bellious against  God,  and  unv\  illing  to  comply  with  the  terms 
of  the  Gospel;  and  that  that  is  the  cause  of  his  distress. 
He  tries  to  believe  that  he  is  mourning  for  sin  and  repent- 
ing, when,  if  the  terms  of  reconciliation  were  clearly  stat- 
ed to  him,  his  heart  nvould  revolt  at  them.     Well;  we  do 
not  call  in  question  the  sincerity  of  his  mourning;  we  say 
nothing  to  him  about  his  unwillingness,  and  thereby  leave 
him  under  the  impression  that  he  is  willing.     He  thmks 
that  God's  time  has  not  yet  come,   and  we  do  not  rectify 
this  dangerous  mistake.     We  tell  him,  persevere  in  using 
the  means  of  grace; — although  you  have  not  yet  obtained 
relief,  you  will  obtain  it;  implying,  that  God  will  hear  his 
prayers  and  accept  him,  without  any  change  on  his,  that 
is,  the  sinner's  part;  for  if  we  mean  that,  before  he  can 
calculate  on  finding  relief  and  acceptance,  the  change  must 
take  place  in  him,  why  do  we  not  tell  him  so  distinctly? 
and  then  he  will  know  what  he  has  to  do,  and  where  the 
blame  must  lie,  until  it  is  accomphshed.     Having  receiv- 
ed the  above  direction,  the  sinner's  mind  is  soothed,  and 
he  thinks  he  is  now  in  a  hopciul  way.     He  feels  none  of 
the  guilt  of  unwillingness  resting  upon  his  conscience,  for 


27 

he  thinks  he  is  wilhng,  that  he  has  done  all  he  can  doj 
and  now  he  must  wait  for  God,  to  do  what  remains  to  be 
done;  not  considering  that  God  commands  him  to  do  this 
very  thing,  and  lays  upon  him  all  the  guilt  of  not  having 
done  it.  "Repent,"  that  is,  change  your  mind.  "Make 
you  a  new  heart  and  a  new  spirit,  for  why  will  ye  die." 

It  is  easy  to  see  that  such  defective  directions  tend  to 
to  lessen  the  convictions  of  an  awakened  sinner,  and  ulti- 
mately lead  him  to  entertain  many  hard  thoughts  of  God, 
upon  whom  he  is  disposed  to  lay  the  blame  of  his  not  hav- 
ing religion,  instead  of  laying  the  blame  on  his  own  soul. 
This  counteracts  the  work  of  the  Holy  Spirit,  the  object 
of  which  is  in  the  first  place  to  convince  of  sin,  and  to  make' 
the  sinner  feel  that  he  is  lost. 

The  efforts  of  many  seem  to  be  employed  to  prevent 
the  sinner  from  coming  to  this  conriction.  As  soon  as  he 
is  a  little  distressed,  they  strive  to  relieve  and  soothe  his 
mind,  instead  of  co-operating  with  the  Holy  Spirit  in  con- 
vincing him  that  his  heart  is  just  as  wicked,  and  his  condi- 
tion jast  as  bad,  as  the  Bible  describes  it  to  be;  and  then 
urging  him  to  immediate  submission,  which  would  be  likely 
soon  to  convince  him  that  he  is  in  the  dilemma  above  des- 
cribed. 

In  the  second  place,  these  directions  tend  to  pro- 
long the  period  of  conviction  and  distress,  even  in  those 
cases  where  it  ultimately  issues  in  saving  conversion. — 
This  is  so  obvious,  from  remarks  already  made,  thit  I  need 
not  here  dwell  upon  it.  But  the  worst  of  all  is,  that  many 
after  having  waited  sufficiently  long,  as  they  think,  for  the 
work  of  the  Spirit,  make  a  profession  of  religion  before 
they  have  experienced  it;  concluding,  that  as  they  have 
been  very  diligent  in  the  use  of  means,  and,  at  times,  had 
some  tenderness  of  feeling,  that  perhaps  the  Spirit  has 
performed  this  mysterious  o])eration  gradually  and  imper- 
ceptibly; that  probably  they  hav^e  experienced  the  change, 
and  ought  now  to  take  the  comfort  of  it.  They  feel  willing 
to  go  on  in  the  same  way  they  have  begun,  and  are  glad 
to  obtain  peace  of  mind  on  terms  which  involve,  compara- 
tively, so  Uttle  sacrifice  of  the  feelings  of  a  pr/Dud  rebelli- 
ous heart.  1  am  awfully  afraid  that  thousands  are  resting 
upon  this  sort  of  religious  experience,  or  upon  something 
equally  dangerous.  The  conduct  of  many  furnishes  too 
much  evidence  of  the  fact.     If  they  had  been  thoroughly 


2S 

convinced  ofsia;  if  they  had,  under  this  conviction,  reali- 
zed  that  they  were  justly  condemned  and  lost  sinners,  and 
iVom  that  awful  condition  heen  snatched  by  the  hand  of 
mercy;— all  this  would  have  made  an  impression  upon  their 
hearts  which  they  could  never  forget;  they  would  have 
felt  themselves  under  infinite  obligations;  their  daily  inqui- 
ry would  have  been,  "Lord,  what  wilt  thou  have  me  to 
do?"  and,  they  would  have  thought,  that  they  could  never 
do  enough  for  the  glory  of  Him  who  had  done  so  much  for 
them.  They  would  have  been  ready  for  every  good  work. 
To  please  and  glorify  God,  and  to  do  good  to  their  fellow 
men,  would  have  been  their  ruling  passion.  If  all  profes- 
sors of  religion  were  of  this  description,  the  cause  of  Christ 
would  not  languish  as  it  does;  churches  would  be  built 
where  they  are  wanted;  and  those  that  have  been  built 
would  be  paid  for;  ministers  and  missionaries  would  be 
supported;  the  funds  of  Bible,  Education,  and  other  so- 
cieties, would  be  replenished;  revivals  would  be  common, 
and  perhaps  continue  without  intermission;  the  Millenium 
would  soon  commence;  and  the  kingdoms  of  this  world 
would  soon  become  the  kingdoms  of  our  God  and  of  his 
Christ. 

But  when  persons  are  brought  into  the  church  without 
having  seen  and  felt  their  true  character  and  condition  as 
lost  sinners;  and  without  a  corresponding  sense  of  infinite 
obligation  for  redeeming  mercy;  and  without  any  other 
kind  of  love  to  Christ  than  that  which  arises  from  the  hope 
that  he  will  save  them; — why,  their  object  is  in  a  great 
degree  accomphshedwhen  they  get  into  the  church.  They 
now  have  much  more  peace  of  mind  than  they  formerly 
had;  they  hope  they  are  christians,  and,  of  course,  that 
they  are  safe.  As  to  the  cause  of  Christ,  they  feel  little 
or  no  concern  about  it.  They  have  other  objects  of  atten- 
tion and  solicitude,  vastly  more  important  in  their  estima- 
tion. They  may  indeed  contribute  something  to  support 
the  show  of  religion;  they  may  decorate  their  churches, 
and  discover  much  zeal  for  their  party,  and  for  the  mere 
externals  of  religion; — all  this  cherishes  their  false  hopes; 
they  think  themselves  and  wish  others  to  think  them  very 
pious.  Some  contribute  a  little,  grudgingly,  to  support 
the  gospel,  because,  if  they  were  to  do  absolutely  nothing, 
they  could  neither  believe  themselves  nor  make  others  be« 
lieve  them  to  be  christians.    A  regard  to  consistency,  and 


29 

to  their  own  reputation,  is  their  leading  motive;  and  even 
that  has  very  httle  intiuence  with  some.  But  to  do  good, 
simply  with  a  view  to  please  God,  or  to  benefit  their  fel- 
low men;  to  make  a  really  disinterested  sacrifice  for  the 
cause  of  Christ;  and  to  stand  in  readiness  to  make  such 
sacrifices  whenever  the  Providence  of  God  shall  de- 
mand them; — they  will  not  do  it.  So  far  from  making  such 
eflforts  and  contributions  with  the  cheerfulness  and  zeal  of 
one  who  loves  Christ,  and  who  takes  a  lively  interest  in 
his  cause,  they  will  often  get  out  of  temper  when  solicited 
to  aid  benevolent  and  pious  objects  One  is  tempted  to 
think,  that  it  would  be  a  great  relief  to  them  if  something 
would  occur  to  put  a  final  stop  to  all  the  efforts  that  are 
making  to  christianize  the  world,  that  there  might  be  no 
further  demands  upon  their  purses  for  assistance  in  carry- 
ing on  this  great  work.  They  could  then  enjoy  their  sel- 
fish pleasures  and  pursuits  as  well,  and  sleep  as  quietl}-, 
while  the  world  around  them  would  be  going  to  destruc- 
tion, as  if  all  were  certainly  on  their  way  to  heaven. — 
MEN  and  BRETHREN!  Does  not  this  state  of  things  call 
for  a  reformation?  Do  we  not  need  ministers  like  John  the 
Baptist,  and  Martin  Luther,  to  go  from  "Dan  to  Beershe- 
ba,"  and  "preach  repentance  for  the  remission  of  sins,"  to 
professors  of  religion?  If  we  were  able  to  draw  accurately 
the  line  of  demarkation  between  those  who  love  Christ, 
and  whose  hearts  are  really  devoted  to  his  cause;  and  those 
who  are  resting  upon  a  false  religious  experience,  or  upon 
no  religious  experience  at  all,  the  prospect  would  astonish 
and  overwhelm  us.  The  multitude  whom  Satan  is  leading 
to  destruction  under  the  cloak  of  a  christian  profession 
would  startle  every  beholder.  "We  are  not  ignorant  of 
his  devices; — and  we  know  he  would  as  soon  take  sinners 
to  hell  in  the  character  of  professors  of  religion,  as  in  any 
other  character.  Since,  therefore,  he  cannot  put  down 
the  truth  entirely,  it  is  his  interest  and  his  policy  to  mingle 
with  it  as  much  error  as  he  can:  and  he  knows  that  er- 
rors on  such  subjects  as  those  discussed  in  the  foregoing 
pages,  are  peculiarly  favourable  to  his  designs.  Wrong 
directions  to  awakened  sinners  are  as  likely  to  issue  in 
their  eternal  overthrow,  as  any  means  he  could  emplo3%. 
They  lead — it  is  to  be  feared — in  thousands  ot  instances, 
to  the  indulgence  of  false  hopes,  and  the  assumption  of  a 

3* 


•30 

mere  "form  of  godliness."  It  is  on  this  account  that  1 
have  been  so  particular  in  stating  and  maintaining,  what 
appear  to  me  to  be  the  only  safe  and  scriptural  directions. 
I.  am  well  aware,  however,  that  there  are  many  who  do 
not  stand  in  need  of  any  information  Which  I  could  give 
ihem  on  this  subject.  But  there  are  many  others,  who, 
perhaps,  may  be  aided  in  forming  correct  views,  by  the 
statements  contained  in  the  preceding  Narrative  and  Re- 
marks. Even  one  additional  ray  of  light  on  subjects  so 
vitally  important,  will  doubtless  be  welcomed  by  those  who 
love  and  rejoice  in  the  truth. 

4.  The  following  passages  of  Scripture  have  appeared 
to  me  in  a  more  important  light  than  ever  before.  "  My 
Spirit  shall  not  always  strive  with  man."  "Wo  unto  them 
when  I  depart  from  them."  "For  this  cause  God  shall 
give  them  up  to  strong  delusion  that  they  may  believe  a  lie, 
&c."    "Let  no  fruit  grow  on  thee  henceforward  forever." 

It  is  difficult  to  reconcile  these  passages  with  the  foUow- 
uig  lines  of  a  hymn,  w^hich  is  often  sung,  and  which  like 
some  sermons  we  hear,  and  some  books  we  read,  contains 
much  truth  mingled  with  some  error.  The  error  is  receiv- 
ed along  with  the  truth,  and  so  counteracts  its  influence; 
or  it  is  received  to  the  exclusion  of  the  truth;  and  thus 
mischief  has  been  often  done  by  those  whose  general  aim. 
was  to  do  good: — 

**  And  while  the  lamp  holds  out  to  burn, 
"  The  vilest  sinner  may  return.** 

Different  constructions  may  indeed  be  put  upon  these 
words;  but  the  most  obvious  idea,  and  that  which  the  im- 
penitent will  most  readily  receive  from  them,  is  in  direct 
opposition  to  those  pasr-ages  of  scripture  above  cited;  and 
while  they  are  dwelling  upon  the  awakened  sinner's  mind^ 
he  will  not  be  likely  to  believe  us  when  we  tell  him  that, 
by  his  obstinate  impenitence,  he  is  in  danger  of  provoking 
God  to  depart  from  him,  to  take  his  Holy  Spirit  from  him, 
and  to  give  him  up  to  strong  delusion,  that  he  might  believe 
a  lie,  and,  as  the  dreadful  consequence,  "be  damned,  with 
all  who  believe  not  the  truth,  but  have  pleasure  in  unrigh- 
teousness " 

These  texts,  certainly  authorise  us  in  saying  that  no  im- 
penitent sinner,  can  be  assured  that  his  day  of  grace  will 
last  as  long  as  his  life.     I  know  some,  and  it  niiikes  my 


31 

soul  shudder  to  think  of  them,  whose  day  of  grace,  there 
is  much  reason  to  fear,  is  forever  past.  There  are  some 
who  have  been  much  awakened  during  this  revival,  but 
who  have  lost  every  serious  impression,  and  now  appear 
to  be  in  a  similar  state  to  those  of  whom  the  Saviour  speaks 
in  these  most  pathetic  words; — "If  thou  hadst  known,  at 
least  in  this  thy  day,  the  things  which  belong  to  thy  peace! 
But  now  are  they  hid  from  thine  eyes!"  This  doctrine 
ought  to  be  most  solemnly  impressed  upon  the  minds  of 
awakened  sinners. 

If  these,  and  other  associated  truths  of  the  gospel,  were 
urged  as  they  ought  to  be,  with  clearness  and  pungency,  up- 
on the  consciences  of  sinners  both  in  public  and  in  private: 
and  other  means  employed  similar  to  those  above  stated,  with 
a  single  eye  to  the  glory  of  God  and  the  salvation  of  souls, 
the  Divine  blessing',  might,  I  beheve,  in  all  cases  be  con- 
fidently expected.  When  and  where  have  such  efforts 
been  made  in  vain?  The  history  of  the  church  cannot  fur- 
nish an  instance.  God  will  bless  his  truth;  and  he  will 
hear  the  prayers,  and  succeed  the  faithful  labours  of  his 
people.  This  truth  is  confirmed  by  all  the  revivals  that 
have  taken  place  since  the  day  of  Pentecost  to  the  present 
time.  I  lay  it  down  then,  as  a  principle,  that  there  are 
means  which  zojhen  persexeringly  employed^  have  always  been 
blest  to  the  revival  of  religion.  If  this  be  admitted,  we  must 
also  admit,  that  where  religion  is  in  a  cold  and  languid 
state,  and  tew  or  none,  are  inquiring  the  way  to  Zion, 
there  is  something  wrong  in  the  church  of  God;  there  is 
an  Achan  in  the  camp:  or  there  is  a  partial  dereliction  of 
duty  on  the  part  of  the  Minister,  or  of  the  members  of  the 
church,  or  of  both.  This  is  certainly  more  ingenuous  and 
more  scriptural,  than  to  ascribe  such  a  wretched  state  of 
things  to  the  want  of  a  sovereign  dispensation  of  Divine 
grace.  There  is  a  connexion  between  the  faithful  dis- 
charge of  duty,  and  the  blessing  of  God.  When,  therefore^ 
we  do  not  enjoy  a  revival,  we  should  freely  acknowledge 
that  the  church  is  to  blame;  and  take  it  for  granted  that 
something  more  ought  to  be  done,  than  we  are  doing. — 
The  absence  of  a  revival,  then,  ought  not  to  be  regarded 
as  our  affliction,  so  much  as  our  sin;  and  each  one  is  an- 
swerable to  God  for  this  sin,  so  far  as  he  neglects  to  employ 
his  efforts  for  this  object.  The  magnitude  of  this  sin  swells 
heyond  the  bounds  of  calculation,  when  we  consider  how 


32 

much  good  is  done  by  a  revival;  and  how  much  evil  exists 
in  its  absence.  We  have  reason  to  tremble  when  we  take 
this  view  of  the  subject;  for,  verily,  the  blood  of  souls  is 
in  our  skirts,  and  will  be  required  at  our  hands! 

I  have  been,  for  a  number  of  years,  in  the  habit  of  read- 
ing accounts  of  revivals,  and  I  do  not  recollect  one  that 
was  produced  without  some  extraordinary  effort,  either  on 
the  part  of  the  Minister,  or  of  some  of  his  people.    When 
I  call  such  efforts  extraordinary,  I  do  not  mean  to  intimate 
that  they  are  works  of  supererogation,  or  in  any  degree 
out  of  the  line  of  our  duty.     On  the  contrary,  I  am  per- 
suaded that  neither  the  claims  of  duty,  nor  the  dictates  of 
an  enlightened  and  tender  conscience,  are  satisfied  without 
them.     I  wish  to  be  understood. — 1  mean  to  assert,  that 
the  ordinary  course  pursued  by  many  ministers  and  chris- 
tians, is  greatly  defective.     They  have  made  the  service 
of  God  more  systematic  and  formal  than  it  was  intended  to 
be.     And,  in  doing  this,  they  have  set  bounds  and  limits  to 
their  exertions  in  the  cause  of  Christ,  which  neither  his 
word,  nor  his  example,  nor  the  example  of  his  apostles, 
wiil  justify.     If  the  precise  order  and  extent  of  religious 
duties  they  observe,  had  been  prescribed  in  the  Bible, 
they  might  then  have  expected  every  blessing  while  pur- 
suing this  order.     But  no  such  order  has  been  prescribed; 
men  have  adopted  it  of  their  own  accord,  because  they 
think  it  authorized  by  the  word  of  God.    Well;   admit  that 
it  is  thus  divinely  authorized,  as  far  as  it  goes,  does  it  em- 
brace all  that  is  required  of  us?     If  it  does  I  have  totally 
mistaken  the  meaning  of  the  Sacred  Records  on  this  sub- 
ject.   When,  therefore,  I  say  we  must  make  extraordinary 
efforts  to  have  a  revival,  I  only  mean  that  we  must  per- 
form more  ministerial  and  christian  duty,  than  many  do 
perform.    There  must  be  a  change,  in  this  respect,  to  pro- 
duce a  revival  in  a  particular  church;  and  there  must  be 
a  general  change,  of  a  similar  nature,  throughout  all  Chris- 
tendom, before  the  Millenium  will  be  likely  to  take  place. 
There  is  a  certain  amount  of  labour  with  which  many 
ministers  satisfy  themselves.     They  preach  once  or  twice 
on  the  Sabbath,  and  perhaps  as  often  during  the  week, 
and  perform  a  few  other  professional  duties.     Custom 
has  established  this  as  a  standard.     When  a  young  minis- 
ter enters  upon  his  profession,  he  finds  this  standard  al- 
ready fixed,  and  he  hardly  questions  whether  any  thing 


33 

more  be  required  of  him.  If  any  one  go  beyond  it,  such 
remark  as  thesie  are  likely  to  be  made  respecting  him: — 
•'He  is  weak,''  or  "he  is  eccentric,"  or  "he  has  zeal  with- 
out knowledge,  and  that  leads  him  to  substitute  means  of 
his  own  invention,  in  the  place  of  those  which  God  has  or- 
dained.'' This  seems  to  imply  their  belief,  that  the  rou- 
tine according  to  which  they  are  proceeding,  comprises 
the  sum  total  of  all  the  means  which  we  are  required  to 
employ  for  the  advancement  of  Christ's  kingdom  in  the 
world.  This  is  an  assumption,  which  they  cannot  prove; 
and,  therefore,  they  ought,  at  least,  to  withhold  their  cen- 
sures from  those  who,  for  conscience  sake,  and  for 
Christ's  sake,  and  for  the  sake  of  perishing  souls,  deviate 
occasionally  from  the  usual  mode  of  ministerial  operation, 
and  try  every  lawful  means  in  their  power,  to  awaken  a 
slumbering  church,  and  to  pull  sinners  out  of  the  fire  of 
hell,  into  which  they  are  continually  descending. 

Custom  has  also  established  a  standard  of  duty  for  pri- 
vate christians.  This  is,  perhaps,  still  farther  l3elow  the 
scriptural  standard,  and  is  so  evident  as  to  require  no 
proof.  Until,  therefore,  ministers,  and  professors  gener- 
ally, are  awakened  from  this  state  of  comparative  indiffer- 
ence, and  "girding  up  the  loins  of  their  minds,"  address 
themselves  to  the  performance  of  their  respective  duties, 
under  the  full  impression  that  they  are  "not  their  own;" 
that  they  are  servants  of  Jesus  Christ,  and  bound  to  seek  his 
glory  in  all  things;  laying  it  down  as  a  principle,  that  they 
must  do  as  much  good  as  they  can;  setting  no  bounds  to 
their  desires  of  usefulness;  keeping  their  hearts  fixed  up- 
on the  things  which  pertain  to  the  kingdom  of  God,  with  a 
(degree  of  interest  which  will  nerve  and  inspirit  the  soul 
to  every  holy  enterprize; — the  world  will  not  be  convert- 
ed to  God.  The  empire  of  Satan  is  too  firmly  rooted,  to 
be  shaken  by  such  tame  and  feeble  efforts  as  thousands 
are  making  at  the  present  day.  There  must  be  a  more 
general  and  powerful  movement  in  the  camp  of  Israel, 
before  we  shall  see  the  accomplishment  of  those  prophe- 
cies which  relate  to  the  future  prosperity  and  glory  of  the 
church.  But  such  a  movement  is  not  to  be  expected 
while  "the  spirit  of  this  world"  has  so  extensive  an  influ- 
ence over  the  minds  of  those  who  profess  to  be  the  chil- 
dren of  light.  As  far  as  it  prevails,  it  desecrates  the  chris- 
tian character,  and  divests  it  of  the  power  of  majking  thart 


Si 

impression  upon  the  world  which  otlierwise  it  could  not 
fail  to  make.  This  spirit  has  paralized  the  energies  of 
many,  who,  perhaps,  are  on  the  whole,  real  christians; 
and  it  reigns  predominant  in  the  hearts  of  others,  who, 
have  nothing  more  than  a  "form  of  godliness."  Manj 
there  are,  who  have  all  the  sanctity  that  baptism  and  the 
Lord's  supper  can  give  them,  who  resemble  those  of 
whom  the  Apostle  Paul  speaks  "weeping; — whose  god  is 
their  belly,  whose  glory  is  in  their  shame,  who  mind 
earthly  things; — who  seek  their  own  things  and  not  the 
things  which  are  Jesus  Christ's."  The  existence  of  so 
many  of  this  description  in  the  church,  should  excite  all 
who  love  her  purity  and  prosperity,  to  pray  and  labour 
for  a  general  revival.  If  a  revival  do  not  shake  their  false 
hopes,  they  are  irreclaimable;  and  nothing  can  be  expect- 
ed to  arouse  them  to  a  sense  of  their  trae  character  and 
condition,  before  they  are  enveloped  in  the  flames  of  the 
bottomless  pit.  Since  our  revival  commenced,  there  have 
been  a  number  of  old  professors  awakened,  and  hopefully 
converted.  Such  things  are  common  in  revivals;  but 
they  seldom  occur  at  any  other  time. 

Here  I  would  suggest,  that  some  revivals  have  com- 
menced by  the  faithful  exercise  of  church  discipline,  and, 
perhaps,  nothing  is  more  necessary  to  the  revival  of  true 
religion  in  the  churches,  generally,  than  a  proper  atten- 
tion to  this  important  duty. 

The  observance  of  days  of  fasting  and  prayer,  in  refer- 
ence to  this  object,  have  also  been  found  to  be  very  use- 
ful. On  such  days,  if  the  church  would  renew  their  co- 
venant with  God,  confessing  their  sins,  and  resolving  to 
be  more  faithful,  it  would  be  likely  to  have  the  happiest 
effect.  If  ministers  have  neglected  their  duty,  let  them 
acknowledge  it,  and  give  glory  to  God,  while  they  take 
shame  to  themselves.  Such  acknowledgements  have,  in 
some  instances,  made  a  powerful  impression. 

In  cases  of  this  nature,  we  ought  not  to  wait  for  a  simul- 
tane.His  movement  of  the  whole  church  to  accomplish  the 
impo'^iant  object;  no,  not  even  for  the  countenance  and 
support  of  "those  who  are  of  reputation,"  or  of  those 
who  are  in  authority,  Each  one  should  resolve — "Now 
I  will,  with  tike  help  of  God,  discharge  my  duty  faithfully, 
though  all  the  other  members  of  the  church  should  ne- 
glect theirs." 


35 

1  hare  often  asked  my  own  soul  such  questions  as  the 
following;  and  i  propose  them  to  the  serious  considera- 
tion of  all  professors  of  religion,  who  may  read  these 
pages,  if  you  are  christians,  they  will  not  hurt  you;  if 
you  are  not  christians,  they  may,  through  God's  blessing, 
convince  you  of  your  mistake,  while  yet  there  is  hope. — 
*'Have  I  the  very  religion  taught  by  Christ  and  his  Apos- 
tles? Or  have  I  been  resting  upon  something  essentially 
different  from  that?  Have  I  ever  been  sensible  of  the  en- 
mity of  my  heart  to  God?  And  am  1  now  reconciled  to  all 
the  parts  of  his  character,  not  excepting  his  justice,  his 
holiness,  his  sovereignty?  Do  I  love  and  rejoice  in  Him 
supremely,  not  merely  because  1  think  he  is  my  friend, 
and  will  save  me;  but  because  He  is  infinitely  worthy  oif 
my  love?  Do  I  see  that  1  deserve  condemnation,  and  re- 
gard it  its  an  infinite  mercy,  that  i  huve  not  been  condemn- 
ed long  ago?  Do  I  feel  that  I  am  not  my  own,  but  entirely 
the  Lord's?  Am  I  living  to  Him,  and  not  to  myself?  Sub- 
jecting my  will  to  His  will,  and  subordinating  my  interests 
to  those  of  His  kingdom?  What  have  I  done,  and  what  am 
I  now  doing,  to  promote  true  religion  within  the  sphere  of 
my  influence?  Is  it  as  much  as  the  Lord  requires  of  me, 
considering  the  talents  and  means  he  He  has  given  me? 
Continuing  in  the  course  1  am  now  pursuing,  am  I  likely 
to  have  a  good  account  to  render  to  my  Judge,  who  even 
now  standeth  at  the  door?"  Close  self-examination,  lead- 
ing to  dQe]y  self-abasement  before  God,  is  an  important 
step  towards  a  revival. 

CONCLUSION. 

My  object  iii  writing  this  piece,  has  not  been  chiefly  to 
give  a  narrative  of  a  revival;  but  to  promote  the  spirit  of 
revival;  to  excite  my  fellow  christians  to  a  more  faithful 
discharge  of  their  duties;  and  to  offer  such  suggestions  as 
may  assist  those  who  are  conscious  of  having  neglected 
their  duty,  in  determining  what  they  ought  now  to  do. 

Another  object  I  have  had  in  view,  is  to  furnish  a  tract, 
which  may  with  advantage  be  distributed  in  a  congregation 
during  the  progress  of  a  revival,  especially  where  incor- 
rect views  are  entertained  respecting  some  points  here 
discussed.  At  such  times,  it  is  very  important  that  all 
should  "speak  the  same  thing." — Even  pious  persons 
may,  unintentionally,  do  injury,  by  giving  to  inquirers,  in- 


36 

judicious  directions.  It  is  presumed,  that  such  persons 
will  thankfully  receive  any  instructions  that  may  assist 
them  in  performing  this  momentous  duty. — Besides — it 
may  often  happen  in  revivals,  that  so  many  will  he  in  an 
anxious  state  of  mind,  that  the  minister  cannot  pay  the  ne-  ; 
cessary  attention  to  all.  It  might^r  therefore,  be  a  relief 
to  his  mind,  and  an  advantage  to  his  people,  to  put  into  I 
their  hands  such  a  pamphlet  as  this,  containing  the  same  ! 
general  views  of  doctrine,  and  the  same  directions  which 
he  would  give  them,  if  he  could  converse  with  each  se- 
parately. They  who  hold  opinions  different  from  those 
here  maintained,  will,  of  course,  pursue  a  different  plan. — 
If  any  of  my  young  brethren  in  the  ministry,  think  my 
censures  fall  too  heavily  upon  them,  I  can  only  say,  my 
aim  is  to  do  them  good,  and  to  promote  the  cause  of  my 
Saviour.  I  censure  none  so  severely  as  I  censure  my- 
self. I  mourn  before  God,  to  think  of  my  past  unfaith- 
fulness; while  I  bless  His  name  for  the  desire  I  now  feel 
to  live  henceforth  to  his  glory;  and  I  shall  rejoice,  if  what 
I  have  said  should,  under  the  Divine  blessing,  which  I 
earnestly  implore,  be  the  means  of  guarding  any  against 
that  negligent,  indifferent,  heartless  manner  of  performing 
the  momentous  duties  of  the  ministry,  which  has  caused 
me  so  many  painful  feelings  of  regret  and  self-dissatisfac- 
tion. 

Baltimore,  March,  1824. 


Princeton  Theoloaical  „f Si,iai7,„,li;Bmi;i" 


1012  01235  9305 


DATE  DUE 

■mtM 

<mir-: 

CAYLORO 

PRINTCOINU   S.A 

